I've had an 800 for a month or so, but I have limited experience with LRF's.
Ditto Ducks response.
I can range large dogs (no I'm not shooting at them!!) out to around 500m (550yds I think or thereabouts). Larger animals to 550m. Both are freehand. Black labs are harder than lighter coloured breeds and go about 350m max. That's all on clear sunny days.
I'm struggling to find animals around here standing still enough for the purposes of ranging, so a tripod didn't add distance. The scan function works fine on running dogs etc. if you can stay with them.
What has surprised me is that I can seldom really range anything much beyond 650yds - buildings etc., irrespective of colour, angle of surface - all from a tripod.
Generally I can't range bushes beyond 300m, but a nice clean treetrunk will range further.
On one occassion I did get a few 700+ ranges on large light coloured buildings and roadsigns.
The guys I bought it from claims it has ranged Springbok (small South African buck) to 500m and from what I've seen I believe that.
It has ranged further in the dark on the same objects that it won't range in the day (it has a backlight for the display).
I was considering taking it back to get the 1200, but I like the size as I hunt handgun too and it can just pop in your top pocket.
It seems quick relative to some of the others I've tried. The 6X is maybe a little limiting.
I've had a few bs readings, but not many. It would switch from 500m or so to 800m+ on the same object.
I've played with a Swaro and in the end just couldn't justify the price for my purposes (ok I just couldn't afford it!). The Nikon's not near that class on range or glass, but seemed quicker.
I still can't decide if I'm disappointed in it. I don't think my expectations were reasonable. I'll play a bit more and find some cows and report back.
Do a search, there are some other comments about the Nikons here that I found useful. They were quite positive - which is why I bought one.
WL